The department of theatre arts and dance will launch its 2008-2009 season with its theatrical performance of Richard Strand’s comedy, The Bug. The play examines Kafka’s eerie vision of a soulless world run by computers and the end result is Strand’s comic nightmare of a play. Be the first to witness what happens when a disgruntled employee finds job security by introducing the company’s executives to The Bug.

The Bug will run in Loyola’s Lower Depths Theatre, on October 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, at 8 p.m., and October 5, at 2 p.m.

In November, director Laura Hope brings to the stage the latent racism that may lurk in the hearts of liberals and conservatives in Rebecca Gilman’s Spinning Into Butter. Set on the campus of a small, private college, Spinning Into Butter explores the danger of both racism and failure to confront it in America today.

Spinning Into Butter will run in Loyola’s Marquette Theatre, on November 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, at 8 p.m., and November 9, at 2 p.m.

The Loyola Ballet will present its fall concert, which features the repertory students from the university program, in conjunction with levels 3 and 4 of the preparatory program, in Roussel Hall on November 21 and 22, at 8 p.m.

Guest Artists

Several guest artists will grace the stages of Loyola this fall.

Cellist and conductor Jeffrey Schoyen will perform a concert in Loyola’s Roussel Hall on Tuesday, September 30, at 7:30 p.m. Schoyen is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and is currently the director of Salisbury Symphony Orchestra and music professor at Salisbury University, in Salisbury, Md.

Pianist Alex McDonald, 2007 New Orleans International Piano Competition silver medalist, will perform on Friday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m., in Roussel Hall

The Indian Arts Circle of New Orleans will present Rajeev Taranath playing the sarod, a plucked string instrument of northern India, on Saturday, November 1, at 6 p.m., in Nunemaker Auditorium.

Nationally acclaimed Aquila Theatre Company will visit Loyola on November 1 to perform Homer’s The Iliad, book 1. The performance is set to take place in Roussel Hall at 7:30 p.m.

International singing sensation, the Vienna Boys Choir, one of the oldest boys’ choirs in the world, will perform in Holy Name Jesus Church on Sunday, November 9, at 3 p.m.

David Northington, concert pianist and professor of piano at the University of Tennessee, will perform a concert titled, “Piano Works of Aaron Copland: An American Master.” After his New York debut recital at Carnegie Hall, The New York Times called Northington “an immensely gifted musician…who combines the technical mastery of a virtuoso with the musical sensitivity of a poet.” The concert takes place on Monday, November 10, at 7:30 p.m., in Roussel Hall.

Jazz Underground Series

The Jazz Underground Series has an exciting lineup of artists to launch its series in its newly renovated home, Satchmo’s, located in the lower level of the Danna Student Center.

The series will begin with the fourth annual Coltrane Festival with Tony Dagradi on Thursday, September 25, at 7:30 p.m.

Famed jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis will perform a concert titled “An Open Letter to Thelonious” on Thursday, November 20, at 7:30 p.m.

Diboll Art Gallery

The Collins C. Diboll Art Gallery has an ever intriguing run of exhibits this fall.

The current exhibit in the gallery is “Pencil & Paper.” Members of Loyola’s faculty, staff and students, and members of the local and national art community were invited to create pieces made from only using graphite pencil and white paper. The result is a stunning array of pieces. The closing reception for “Pencil & Paper” will be Thursday, September 18, at 5 p.m.

In October, Wayne Amedee will feature his series of paintings and works on paper titled, “Renewal, New Morning.” This series is Amedee’s response to the catastrophic events that resulted from Hurricane Katrina. The opening reception for “Renewal, New Morning” is Thursday, October 16, at 5 p.m. To see more of the pieces included in the show, visit Amedee’s website at http://www.wayneamedee.com/.

Loyola will welcome Prospect.1 New Orleans to its campus on November 1. The campus will be one of the many hosts around the city that will house artwork from the national traveling collection. Loyola will present Nadine Robinson’s “Nighthouse” and Paul Villinski’s “Emergency Response Studio.” Loyola will also host a panel discussion called ArtTable as part of Prospect.1 that features Dan Cameron and Toby Lewis, an ArtTable member and funder of Prospect.1. ArtTable will begin at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion with several local artists at 4:30 on Sunday, November 2, in Nunemaker Auditorium.

In conjunction with the Prospect.1 installations, Loyola will display in its academic quad an exhibition of sculptures by Lin Emery, John Scott, Martin Payton, Wayne Amedee, Jose Morales and David Borgerding. Mark Grote will also exhibit a new sculptural installation in Loyola’s Peace Quad.

Five of Loyola’s established visual arts alumni will return to the campus in the fall to create an exhibit of new installations and performance works titled, “Recursion,” to be seen in various locations that will occur concurrently with the Prospect.1 exhibition.

The Diboll Art Gallery will bridge the fall and spring semesters with the exhibit, “How a Book is Made.” In an age where physical books are being increasingly replaced by virtual formats, this exhibition examines what happens when contemporary artists and historians consider the true meaning of books. “How a Book is Made” will open Monday, December 1, with an opening reception 5 p.m.

The Collins C. Diboll Art Gallery is located on the fourth floor of the Monroe Library, on Loyola’s main campus.

These events are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Montage Fine and Performing Arts Series. We have many other events including performances by university faculty and student ensembles and guest masterclasses. For more information about any of our events, including how to purchase tickets, visit montage.loyno.edu.

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